Annealing furnace



1,593,351 A. E. PAIGE ANNEALl'N'G FURNACE Filed Augustv 15, 1925 s Smets-sheet n July 2o 1926.

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3 Sheet's-Sheet 2 July 20 "1926.

A. E. PAIGE ANNEALING FURNAGE Filed August 13. 1925 f alb/f ///////////////////////t/T/TT/-Ah ,Egal/riff;

July 20 1926.

A. E. PAIGE I ANNEALING FURNAQE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed August 13. 1925 MVM/701B Patented July 2Q, lti.

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, F PHILADELPHA, PENNS3Y1TVAI|.\1'IA.y

ANNEALING FURNACE. i

Application filed August 13, 1925. Serial No. 49,993.

illy intention is particularly adaivited tot' annealing centritugally aast iron pipe, and 'l `-red to cooperate with such centritugal ci ng mechanism as described and claimed 5 in l'ietters Patent ot the United States No. ,hiSS granted to ine May 19, 1925; the pipes produced by that inechanisn'i heilig ot u'hat are lrnown as the bell and spigot type. However, do not desire to limit myself to that specific use.y

(dwing to the high temperature to which such pipes are necessarily subjected lo conn` pletely anneal theingpthey would de't'orni and collapse it permitted to remain in one position continuously throughout the annealing opeiation,4 which may require more than twenty minutes. ,lli'e'i'e'liore, an object and cl'l'ect ofiny invention is to keep each pipe ontinuously in motionthroughout tliean- Dealing operation; such inotion including rotation ot' each pipe upon its own anis and progression or thelatter from the entrance to the exit ot the furnace chan'iber;-so that the grayitative 'effect ot the niass ot each pipe, tending to deitorin it, is constantly Ichanged in direction, With the result that the pipe retains its original symmetrical contiguration throughout the annealing operation.

in the torni ot' iny invention hereinafter described; 'furnace chamber, of such dins as to inclose a series ot' more than j ot such pipes, ot standard dimensions, provided with a pair ot rails, imbedded in the door thereof and inclined downyrfardly trom the inlet to the outlet ot the `liurnace so that said seri-es oit pipe roll down the saine, ot their own Weight, When tree to do so: but such' rolling movement is liiuii'cd aud controlled by a pair ot screw shafts haring threads against which each pipe is opped; mean??l being proif'ided to turn fd shafts siinultaneously atany de sire-d rate` which may he predetermined in accordance with the length ot time it isded to retain cach pipe in the furnace. The

mechanism for rotating said screw shat'ts isV pipe before it is released for entrance into the furnace.

In furnaces of the prior art tor the same general purpose; the pipe entrance and exit ot the furnace chambers are controlled by vertically reciprocatory doors which are necessarily open a large part ot' the. time to permit the ingress and egress ot the pipes. tluch construction and arrangement very materially reduce the thermal eliiciency ol the tui-nace hy the practically continuous communication thus established b-etuf'een the interior ot the furnace chamber and the outer atmosphere, perniitting the inrush ol cold air induced by the draught ot the products o'l coniliustion :t'roin the furnace. Theretor-e, an important adjunct ot' my invention aforesaid is the provision ot' means to innintain the furnace chamber substantially continually closed during `its operation. Such closure is effected by doors which are hinged at their upper edges and which are swung open only by contact or" the successive pipes therewith, as the latter are progressed 'from the entrance to the exit ol" the tu anceg cach pipe co-operating with the door which it is moving to maintain the doorway subst-antially closed While the pipe is passing through the same.

My invention includes the Various novel features ot construction and arrangement hereinafter more delinitely specilied.

ln said drawings: Fig. l is a front elevation ot a furnace and .its appurtenances, conveniently embodying iny invention.

Fig. Il is a li'nigitndinal vertical sectional View ot' said furnace, taken on the line ll, ll in Figl.

Fig. lll is a transverse `Vertical sectional rien' ot said furnace, taken on the liuc lll', lll in Fig. All, in the direction oit the a rronf; on said line.

Fig. AlV is a :tra jnientary plan vieri ot the furnace floor n n said rails and serein' sbatte, and two pipesthereon.

Fig. Y a fragmentary longitudinal retti cal sectional vieu', talt'en on the line T.. V in Fig. I., in the direction ot' the arrows on said line; but on a larger scale.

Vlig. lll is a fragmentary side elevation ot Fig. VII is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the portion or said 'feeding mechanism indicated at the left rand side o' Fig. and in Fig. V.

Fig. VIH is a diagrammatic plan view oi' a convenient en'ibodiinent'ot iny invention in coordinated relation with centrifugal castingl mechanisms.

Fig. IX is a fragmentary longitudinal Sectional View, showing a modified form of iny invention.

ln said iigure's; the annealing Jfurnace includes opposite side walls l and 27 end walls S ande, ceiling 5 and ioor 6, and the space inclosed thereby is preferably divided by the partition 7, to vforni the combustion chaniher) and cooling chamberlO. Said end "Wall 3, is provided with the pipe entrance doorway` 2', which is normally closed by the door 13. Said door is hung upon hing lent itsupper edge and preferably Y provided with the eounterweight l5, and so constructed and arranged that said dooris Y only; slightly und ,r-balancecl, so vthat it will close to the position shown in iull lines in Fig. Il when released.

Said end Wall 4, is provided with the pipe exit doorway i7 which is normally closed by the door 18, hung upon hinges 19 at its upper `edge and preferablyV provided the conntervveight so constructed and arranged that said door is only slightly uri-- 'derbalancech so that it willV close to the position 'shown inr i'nll lines Ain Fig. H' when released.

vSaid `door G, has 'a pair ndi and arranged to support a se-ie.s of pipes 2: in parallelr relation with each other and with their Vaxes extending transversely, at.

angles, to said rails. Said floor and ever. l provide said door 6. with tivo long'b tudinal channels 2? and 28v in which lf mount Wrought iron or steel tuliiing, havi creiv threads S2 and 33 forro d oil hars l thereon, but oppositel-y inclined upon the respective shafts as indicated in Fig. IY. euch opposite inclination prevents rotary i'novei'ncnt of said shafts i'roni causing 'said pipes to move tra ""f'ersely 'with respect to said tracks. as would be the case it the): were both inclined in the saine. direct" i. ln theo in shown; the Africtional engagement of'each balances theV other. Y Y i Each oit said sha-fits is provided at its opposite ends with respective hollow trunnions 35 and Sd'provided with paci-ring boxes 37 and 3S adaptedV toinak'e Water tight joints. The interior of each of, said, seieni shafts with 'e inclined. so that said pipes wouldv minutes.

:nid 30 is supplied with Water through respective pipes #l0 which are stationary and held in Water tight relation therewithby said stili-ling bores Si". Each pipe 40 is conveniently provided with a union 41 so that they may be readily removed and replaced to permit said screw shafts to be removed and replaced. l

lli/"atc thue'supplied within said screw and 30 arranged to be Withdrawn in through. the respective pipes 42 which are stationary and heldin Water tight- .tion therewith by said stuiing boxes 38. Said p ies si?, are provided with unions 43 to permit their reinoval and replacement.

Vater' may be thus directed through saidy screw .shafts and 8() at such a rate as to slate the temperature thereof to any del degree. However. it is advantag'eousA iintain them ashot as is possible Without interference with their operation, so as io nace chaniher and pipes therein.

Said trunnions and 36 are respectively journaled in bearings #l5 and 46, conveniently .formed in respective` cast plates fornr" ing the respee'tivesills of Said entra-nee and exitdoorways. and said journals are res" ectively provided with capLplatesan 48 bol if thereto as to adjustably secure anti'rrictionY hearingI bushings 49 and 50 1which are indicated in Fig. V; which may be renewed Vwhen required. f

EachV of said trunnions A35 is encircled a hall thrust bearing for instance as indi* at 52 in Fig. Y; which abuts against the adjacent face of the journal 45 yto sustain avoid ininecessary loss of heat fromV the the endivise thrust on said shafts 29 and 30 incident to their inclination aforesaid; each of said trunnions 35 being provided with aV worin gear rigidly seeuredtl'iereon, convenienljvv by set screws 55, and having its heb against the outer hard steel ring of said hall bearine' 4: as shown in Fig. V.

"id ire respectively engaged by f V.c-iined Worms 56 which are rigidly connected 'with the shaft 57 which is supiliorted' in ysuitable bearings 58. l shown in Figs, .l and .lr-l; said sli-aft 37 earf. i the outer end therei-if, the Worin gear ich is engaged lrv theworm 6l on theV e shaft ($2 ov said screw shafts 29 and 30 may he ieee-.sly rotated in opposite directions ndicated in Fig. IV. Such rotation *pei* mits said pipes to'roll through said fun naceupon said .ra-ils 22 and23 at Va rate .vl "h may he predetermined and controlled either by controlling the speed of 4.said motor, or by varying vthe ratio of the gear`- ingl connecting said motor with said screw' slm'fts and 30. As above iridicatedgjitis possible to adequately anneal such pipee2-5 to a commercially lacceptable. slt-'ate in twenty However, itV 'is pferable :to re lofi llt)

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tain them in said furnace for a longer time, if convenient.

Although said furnace may be heated by any suitable means; I prefer to heat it by tvvo series of blast burners 65, indicated in F igs. II and III, respectively disposed upon opposite sides of said combustion chamber 9. The flames from said burners are upivardly deflected by the battle Walls G6 so as to enter said chamber 9 adjacent to said ceiling 5 from which they are deflected upon said pipes 25. Said burners may be adapted to consume gas, oil or powdered coal, and to facilitate the combustion of such fuel and conserve some of the heat from said furnace which Would otherwise be Wasted. I prefer to taire compressed air to said burners 'through passageivays 68 extending through tiles beneath said fioor 6, and through conduits 69 which extend longitudinally through said side Walls 'l and 2. beneath the hearths 70 and 7l, shown in Fig. III. As shown in Fig. III; I find it convenient to provide vent openings 7 l in said ceiling 5, which may be closed by tiles 7st.

In order to feed said pipes into said "furnace in the regular order indicated in F igs. II, IV and V g I provide traclrs 76, indicated in Figs. II, V and VI extending` exterior to said furnace in alineincnt With said furnace rails 22 and 23; and mount centrifugal casting machines 77 and 7 8, upon respectively opposite sides thereof, With their axes extending transversely, at right angles thereto, as indicated in Fig'. VIII. Such machines are each adapted to discharge the pipes cast therein with their bell ends toward said tracks, and are arranged to be operated in alternation so as to dispose the pipes 25 with their bell ends alternately upon opposite sides ot said tracks 76, as indicated in Fig. IV.

Said tracks 76 are preferably inclined so that said pipes 25 roll toward the furnace above described. I-Ioivever, in order to properly time the introduction of each pipe to said combustion chamber 9; I connect said traclrs 76 with said rails 22 and 23 by the tiltable trap includingT rails 79 which are coupled by means including the rock shaft` 80; so that they may tilt together, from alinement with said tracks 76 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. VI to the inclined position indicated in full lines in that figure. Said roch shaft 80 is so located that the ends of said trap rails 79 extend to a greater radius therefrom toward said furnace than in the other direction, and tend to gravitate to the position shown in full lines in Fig. VI, Whenever they are free to do so. I-Ioivever, said coupled tiltable trap rails 79 are normally upheld in alineinent with said tracks 76 and furnace rails 22 and 23 by two levers 81 which, as indicated in Fig. VII, are fulcrumed at 82 in. respective stationary brackets 83, and extend beneath the respective rails 79. Said levers 8l have arms 85 respectively presented beneath cams 86, conveniently of the configuration shown in Fig. VII, which are respectively rigidly connected with said screw shafts 29 and 30, and. conveniently by being,` made in respectively unitary relation With said Worm gears t, as indicated in Fig. V.

The construction and arrangement of the pipe feedingl mechanism above described is such that said tiltable trap rails 79 are permitted to fall into the position shoivn in Fig. VI at each revolution of said rxcreyv shafts Q5) and 30, with a pipe 25 trapped and detained at the entrance end of said rails 22 and 23. Although under normal conditions such a pipe would be detained by en countering the adjacent ends of said rails 22 and I prefer to provide a pair of de tent levers 88 respectively adjacent to said rails and 23 and fulcrumed at 89 on re- `ll`ective bearing` 90 in rigid relation. with said tracks, as indicated in Fig. VI; so that 'when said tiltable trap trac-lis 79 drop to the position shown in Fig. VI said detent levers Se are upturned above said rails 22 and 23 to detain the trajliped pipe 25 from passing on to said rails until released by the feedingl inechanisn'i. Uf course, such release is effected by the said cams 8G; which restore said levers 5l to the position shown in Fig. VII and thus raise said trap tracks` 79 to their normal horizontal position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. V I, and simultaneously permit said detent levers 8l to .drop below the upper level of said rails 29. and n3 so that each pipe 25, is thus freed at the proper instant to roll into the furnace chamber l) of its oxvn Weight; each pipo rolling against said entrance door 13 and swinging` the latter from the position shown in full lines, to the `position shown in dotted lines, in Fig. II, Without opening' the fur nace to the outer atmosphere. Similarly, ach pipe 25 ultimately rolls against the exit door 18 and swings the latter from the position shown in full lines in Fig. II, to the position shoivn in dotted lines in said ligure, Without openingr the latter to the outer ate mosphere, and rolls on doivn the discharge tracks 91.v

I lind it convenient to coordinate With said cast pipe feeding` inechanisni above doscribed. moans for we f" each such pipe before it is released for ent ance into the fur nace. As indicated in Figs. I and Vl: such Weighing; means convenir-tntly includes a scale 92 having a vertically reciprocatory platform ivhich is adapted to receive the detained pipe When the trap tracts 70 drop to the position shown in Fig. VI. The weight of the pipe then resting; upon said platform is conveniently indicated by the dial 95, l/oreover, as indicated in VI;

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l prefer to coordinate with the mechanism of said scale 92 a printing mechanism 96, which is adapted to automatically print upon a web of paper 9'? extending between the rolls 98 and 99, a record of the weight of each pipe deposited upon said scale plat-V Y. form 93.

g form of iny invention above described, l prefer to utilize the screw shafts 29 and 30 merely to limit and control'thc rate at whichxthe cast pipes 25 roll down the inclined railsQ)J and 23 by their own weight; it is obvious that said rails Q2 and Vmay entend in horizontal position,` so that said pipes have no tendency to roll thereon of their own weight; and, in that cai'eplruse said screw shafts 29 and BO to t -ansiersely push, and thus roll, said pi' e. as indicated in Fig. 1X; to progress th `in through said furnace.

Although the structures above described Vmay be conveniently employed in annealing centi y cast pipes 25; it is obvious that they may be used to automatically turn y set forth, as it is obvious that various modi-` fications may be .made therein without de-V parting from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended clain s` l claim:

l. ln annealing apparatus; the combination with afurnace inclosure; of tracks in said inclosui'e arranged to support a series of pipes to roll thereon from one end of the furnace to the other; and means controlling the movement of said pipes on said tracks y including a screw shaft extending parallel with said tracks and having a thread engaging said pipes; wherein the` tracks are inclined so that the pipes tend tov roll thereon in said in'closure; of their own weightl` and said screw shaft merelyv limits the rate of such gravitative movement of the pipes.

In annea-lii'ig apparatus; the combination with a furnace inclosure-g of means arranged to limit ther movement of articlesk of doors l'iinged at their upper edges re-r spectively at said entrance and exit; and means arranged to direct the articles -t'o be annealed through said ent-ranceand exitin sucLi-iositiouasto form temporary closures 'for the saine; whereby said: doors are auto# inatieallj,Y openeil-'by the movement of such rticles against them; and the introduction and removal of such articles eii'ected with euch aiticles co-acting with said'doors to substantially exclude the outer atmosphere x i i i'roins'aid inclosure dnring the passing of' 'such articles through the doorways.

ln annealing apparatus; the combinavsupport for such articles and a camoperatively connected wich said shaft arranged to tilt said trapping means. p

in annealing apparatus such as defined in claim 6; the combination with said trapping means; of means arranged to automatically weigh each article in succession7V in-V cluding a scale, to Awhich each article isV delivered and from which eac-h article is removed by said trapping means. i

o. in annealing apparatus; the combination with a lurnaceinclosure; of means arranged to control the rate of movement articles through said furnace, including Va rotary shaft; and means arranged to intermittently trap and release suchV articlesfor.

ent-rance to said furnace, .including a tiltable support for such articles, and means opei'atively connected with said shaft arranged v toV tilt said trapping means; and weighing llO rails in alinenient with said trap andex-v tending downwardly inclined 'from said entrance rto said exit in said furnace; whereby said pipes discharged from said machine upon said tracks arc caused to roll through" said furnace; means arranged to regulate the progression of said pipes through said furnace, including a pair' of screw shafts extending in said furnace parallel with said furnace rails and having respectively oppositelfy inclined threads arranged to engage with said pipes; means arranged to simultaneously turn 'said screw shafts andthereby control thev rate of progress of said pipes through said furnace, including worin gears on the respective shafts,worins engaging; said gears, a shaft for said worms, and` an electric l motor connected; with' said worin shaft; a cam on said screw Shaft; and a.

lever connecting said cam with said trap; whereby the lat-ter is raised and lowered during each revolution of said screw shafts to temporarily detain each pipe and then release it for entrance into said furnace.

S. The combination with a pair of tracks; of means arranged to discharge pipes on to said tracks; a pipe. trap in alinement with. said tracks, arranged to oscillate and tending to tilt downwardly; an annealing furnace having a pipe entrance doorway and a pipe exit doorway at respectively opposite ends thereof; a pair of stationary furnace rails in alinement with said trap and eX- tending downwardly inclined from said entrance to said exit in said furnace; an entrance door for said furnace and an exit door for said furnace; said entrance door being adapted to swing inwardly and said exit door being adapted to swing outwardly with respect to said furnace; whereby pipes discharged from said machines upon said tracks are caused to roll through said furnace; means arranged to regulate the pro gression of said pipes through said furnace, including a pair of screw shafts extending in said furnace parallel with said furnace rails and having respectively oppositely in` clined threads arranged to engage with said pipesgmeans ar 'anged to simultaneously turn said screw shafts and thereby control the rate of progress of said pipes through said furnace, including worin gears on the respective shafts, worms engaging said gears, a shaft for said worms, and an electric motor connected with said worm shaft;l

a cam on said screw sha-ft; and a lever connecting said xam with said trap; whereby the latter is raised and lowered during each revolution of said screw shafts to tempo rai-ily detain each pipe and then release it for entrance into said furnace.

9. The combination with a pair of inclined tracks; of means arranged to discharge pipes on to said tracks; a pipe trap in alinement with said tracks, arranged to oscillate and tending to. tilt downwardly; means for weighing each pipe which traverses said tracks, including a scale having a vertically reciprocatory platform arranged to receive a pipe deposited thereon by the dowi'iward tilting movement of said trap; a detent level' arranged to be operated by the downward movement of said trap to npturn said detent lever in position to stop each pipe in its trapped position and prevent its accidental escape from said scale platform; an annealing furnace having a pipe entrance doorway and a pipe exit doorway at respectively opposite ends thereof; a pair of stationary furnace rails in alinement with said tracks and extending downwardly inclined from said entrance to said exit in said furnace; an entrance door for said furnace and an exit door for said furnace; said entrance door being adapted to swing inwardly and said exit door being adapted to swing outwardly with respect to said fur nace; whereby pipes discharged from said machine. upon said tracks are caused to roll through said furnace, and automatically open said doors by their own weight; means arranged to regulate the progression of'said pipes through said furnace, including a screw si aft extending in said furnace parallel with said furnace rails and having threads arranged to engage with said pipes; means arranged to turn said screw shaftand thereby control the rate of progress of said pipes through said furnace, including a worm gear on said shaft, a worm engaging said gear, a shaft for said worm, and an electric motor connected with said worm shaft; al cam on said screw shaft; and a lever connecting said cam with said trap; whereby' theI latter' is raised and lowered during each revolution of said screw shaft to temporarily detain each pipe while it is being weighed and then release it for en* trance into said furnace.

l0. The combination with a pair of inclined tracks; of a pair of trap rails respeetively in alineinent with said tracks, rigidly connected, arranged to oscillate, and tending to tilt downwardly; means for weighing each article which traverses said tracks and rails, including a scale having a vertically reciprocatory platform arranged to receive an article. deposited thereon by the downward tilting movement o-f said trap; a. tent lever arranged to be operated by the downward movement of said trap to upturn said detent lever in position to stop each article in its trapped position and prevent its accidental escape from said scale; and an annealing furnace having an entrance doorway in cooperative relation with said 'tracks and trap; whereby, each article is temporarily detained, weighed, and released to enter said furnace.

1l. The combination with a pair of inclined tracks; of a pair of trap rails respectively in alinement with said tracks. rigidly connected, arranged to oscillate, and tending to tilt downwardly; means for weigl'iing each article which traverses said tracks and rails, including a scale having a vertically reciprocatory platform arranged to receive an article deposited thereon by the downward tilting movement of said trap; and an annealing furnace having an entrance doorway in cooperative relation with said tracks and trap; whereby, each article is temporarily detained, weighed, and released to enter said furnace.

12. rllhe combination with a pair of inclined tracks; of a pair of tra-p rails respectively in alinement with said tracks, rigidly connected, arranged to oscillate, and tende ing to tilt downwardly; means for weighing llCv rang

each article which traverses said tracks and rails, includin Scale l arranged to receive an artiele deposited thereon 'by the dowi1- ward tilting' movement of said trap; and an annealing iirnaee having an entrance doorvay infeooperative relation with said tracks and traf); ivliereby, each article is temporarily (il'eta'iried, weighed, and released to enter raid furnace. 5

` Tlie combination with a pair ot tracks; of a trap adjoir'iing`l` 'said traels, ar v d to eseillate and tending' to tilt dow1i iv .ifdlvg ineens ,torwe'igliing ea'eli article xvliieli traveffe said trafo'ke and trap, incliidiiig' a ejfale arranged to receive an article deposited thereon by the downward V tilting nioveinen't of said a detent arranged to be operated by the downward niovenieiit ofv Said trap railsY to upt'urn in 1'5jsitif1'i'-to`S`-topeach pipe in itS'tra-oped poeiti'o'n`v and prevent its accidental escape `from Said'seale; and a motor arranged to automatically tilt said trap. y

le. The combination with a pair or tracks-gef a trap adJoinlnfr said tracks, ar-

ranged to oscillat'e and ten ing to tilt dovnwardly; means for Weighing each yarticle which tra-verses `said Vtracks andvtrap, iiieluding a scale arranged `to receive an article deposited thereon by the downward tilt*V` ing Vmovement of Said trap; and a motor arranged to automatically tilt said trapgj 15. Apparatus as defined' in claiirrlT;

wherein the scale in'eelianisin is infelosed in" aY eleventh dayV of Augst, 1925'.

ARTHUR` PAIGE. 

